NPR: Colorado's prisons chief wants to limit solitary confinement
Colorado's prisons chief wants to limit solitary confinement
New Department of Corrections head Rick Raemisch vows to
continue efforts to reform the prison system initiated by the late Tom
Clements.
Read More
Interview with Rick Raemisch on limiting solitary confinement
It’s
been nearly a year since Tom Clements, then the head of Colorado’s
prisons, was murdered, allegedly by a former inmate. Rick Raemisch, the
man who succeeded Clements, is determined to continue efforts Clements
started to reform the prison system.
As
head of the Colorado Department of Corrections, Tom Clements began
reducing the number of inmates in solitary confinement. He started that
work shortly after he began the job in 2011, and during his tenure, the
number of inmates housed in solitary confinement dropped 50 percent,
from a high of about 1,500 inmates.
Since
Raemisch took the job last summer, he’s further reduced the numbers.
Today, less than 600 inmates are in administrative segregation, the
technical term for solitary confinement.
Raemisch
received national attention recently for an opinion piece he wrote in
the New York Times about spending a night in an administrative
segregation cell. He says he did it to get a sense of what the
experience was like for inmates.
Raemisch
says while the 20 hours he spent in the cell were nothing compared to
what inmates spend, he was surprised at the effect it had on him. For
example, he says he felt paronoid and lost track of time.
“It
didn’t take long before I felt like I had absolutely run out of things
to do, which was nothing. There was nothing to do,” Raemisch says. “So,
you find yourself gravitating towards the small window in the steel door
and look out and see if you can see anything.”
Inmates
in solitary confinement spend 23 hours alone in a cell each day. They
have an hour a day to shower and exercise in a neighboring cell. Meals
are given to them through a slot in the door and they have little
outside contact.
Raemisch
says he hopes to continue reducing the number of inmates in
administrative segregation by moving mentally ill inmates into treatment
and easing others into the prison’s general population. When asked how
many inmates will remain in administrative segregation, Raemish says he
isn’t sure.
“Well, ideally it should be zero,” Raemisch says. "Is that possible? You know, I don’t think so.”
Raemish
says he fears there will always be a small number of inmates who are
too dangerous to live in the general prison population. Or, he says, if
they weren’t extremely dangerous before they were put in administrative
segregation, the experience could make them that way.
That
could have been the case for the man who murdered Clements. Evan Ebel,
who was on parole at the time of the murder, spent a significant amount
of time in solitary confinement. Ebel allegedly shot the former prisons
chief at his home in Monument, Colo., south of Denver. He was later
killed in a shootout with police in Texas.
Ebel
had been out of prison for just a couple of months when he allegedly
killed Clements. Before the incident, he had complained about the
damaging effects of isolation and his father, a Boulder attorney, had
testified before the state legislature about his concerns that solitary
confinement had harmed his son's mental state.
Given
what happened to his predecessor, Raemisch has a full-time security
detail to ensure his safety. He says a lot of people ask him why he
decided to take the job.
“This
sounds corny but to me it feels like I’m in the right place at the
right time,” Raemisch says. “Like I’m supposed to be here.”
And for this week, at least, Raemisch says he plans to stick around.
- See more at: http://www.cpr.org/news/story/colorados-prisons-chief-wants-limit-solitary-confinement#.dpufAudio: Rick Raemisch speaks with Ryan Warner
Inmates
in solitary confinement in Colorado have one hour a day to exercise in a
small enclosed space and take a shower. They spend the remaining 23
hours alone in their cells.
(Photo: Courtesy of Brittany Glidden)
As
head of the Colorado Department of Corrections, Tom Clements began
reducing the number of inmates in solitary confinement. He started that
work shortly after he began the job in 2011, and during his tenure, the
number of inmates housed in solitary confinement dropped 50 percent,
from a high of about 1,500 inmates.
Since
Raemisch took the job last summer, he’s further reduced the numbers.
Today, less than 600 inmates are in administrative segregation, the
technical term for solitary confinement.
Raemisch
received national attention recently for an opinion piece he wrote in
the New York Times about spending a night in an administrative
segregation cell. He says he did it to get a sense of what the
experience was like for inmates.
Raemisch
says while the 20 hours he spent in the cell were nothing compared to
what inmates spend, he was surprised at the effect it had on him. For
example, he says he felt paronoid and lost track of time.
“It
didn’t take long before I felt like I had absolutely run out of things
to do, which was nothing. There was nothing to do,” Raemisch says. “So,
you find yourself gravitating towards the small window in the steel door
and look out and see if you can see anything.”
Inmates
in solitary confinement spend 23 hours alone in a cell each day. They
have an hour a day to shower and exercise in a neighboring cell. Meals
are given to them through a slot in the door and they have little
outside contact.
Raemisch
says he hopes to continue reducing the number of inmates in
administrative segregation by moving mentally ill inmates into treatment
and easing others into the prison’s general population. When asked how
many inmates will remain in administrative segregation, Raemish says he
isn’t sure.
“Well, ideally it should be zero,” Raemisch says. "Is that possible? You know, I don’t think so.”
Raemish
says he fears there will always be a small number of inmates who are
too dangerous to live in the general prison population. Or, he says, if
they weren’t extremely dangerous before they were put in administrative
segregation, the experience could make them that way.
That
could have been the case for the man who murdered Clements. Evan Ebel,
who was on parole at the time of the murder, spent a significant amount
of time in solitary confinement. Ebel allegedly shot the former prisons
chief at his home in Monument, Colo., south of Denver. He was later
killed in a shootout with police in Texas.
Ebel
had been out of prison for just a couple of months when he allegedly
killed Clements. Before the incident, he had complained about the
damaging effects of isolation and his father, a Boulder attorney, had
testified before the state legislature about his concerns that solitary
confinement had harmed his son's mental state.
Given
what happened to his predecessor, Raemisch has a full-time security
detail to ensure his safety. He says a lot of people ask him why he
decided to take the job.
“This
sounds corny but to me it feels like I’m in the right place at the
right time,” Raemisch says. “Like I’m supposed to be here.”
And for this week, at least, Raemisch says he plans to stick around.
It’s
been nearly a year since Tom Clements, then the head of Colorado’s
prisons, was murdered, allegedly by a former inmate. Rick Raemisch, the
man who succeeded Clements, is determined to continue efforts Clements
started to reform the prison system.
As
head of the Colorado Department of Corrections, Tom Clements began
reducing the number of inmates in solitary confinement. He started that
work shortly after he began the job in 2011, and during his tenure, the
number of inmates housed in solitary confinement dropped 50 percent,
from a high of about 1,500 inmates.
Since
Raemisch took the job last summer, he’s further reduced the numbers.
Today, less than 600 inmates are in administrative segregation, the
technical term for solitary confinement.
Raemisch
received national attention recently for an opinion piece he wrote in
the New York Times about spending a night in an administrative
segregation cell. He says he did it to get a sense of what the
experience was like for inmates.
Raemisch
says while the 20 hours he spent in the cell were nothing compared to
what inmates spend, he was surprised at the effect it had on him. For
example, he says he felt paronoid and lost track of time.
“It
didn’t take long before I felt like I had absolutely run out of things
to do, which was nothing. There was nothing to do,” Raemisch says. “So,
you find yourself gravitating towards the small window in the steel door
and look out and see if you can see anything.”
Inmates
in solitary confinement spend 23 hours alone in a cell each day. They
have an hour a day to shower and exercise in a neighboring cell. Meals
are given to them through a slot in the door and they have little
outside contact.
Raemisch
says he hopes to continue reducing the number of inmates in
administrative segregation by moving mentally ill inmates into treatment
and easing others into the prison’s general population. When asked how
many inmates will remain in administrative segregation, Raemish says he
isn’t sure.
“Well, ideally it should be zero,” Raemisch says. "Is that possible? You know, I don’t think so.”
Raemish
says he fears there will always be a small number of inmates who are
too dangerous to live in the general prison population. Or, he says, if
they weren’t extremely dangerous before they were put in administrative
segregation, the experience could make them that way.
That
could have been the case for the man who murdered Clements. Evan Ebel,
who was on parole at the time of the murder, spent a significant amount
of time in solitary confinement. Ebel allegedly shot the former prisons
chief at his home in Monument, Colo., south of Denver. He was later
killed in a shootout with police in Texas.
Ebel
had been out of prison for just a couple of months when he allegedly
killed Clements. Before the incident, he had complained about the
damaging effects of isolation and his father, a Boulder attorney, had
testified before the state legislature about his concerns that solitary
confinement had harmed his son's mental state.
Given
what happened to his predecessor, Raemisch has a full-time security
detail to ensure his safety. He says a lot of people ask him why he
decided to take the job.
“This
sounds corny but to me it feels like I’m in the right place at the
right time,” Raemisch says. “Like I’m supposed to be here.”
And for this week, at least, Raemisch says he plans to stick around.
It’s
been nearly a year since Tom Clements, then the head of Colorado’s
prisons, was murdered, allegedly by a former inmate. Rick Raemisch, the
man who succeeded Clements, is determined to continue efforts Clements
started to reform the prison system.
As
head of the Colorado Department of Corrections, Tom Clements began
reducing the number of inmates in solitary confinement. He started that
work shortly after he began the job in 2011, and during his tenure, the
number of inmates housed in solitary confinement dropped 50 percent,
from a high of about 1,500 inmates.
Since
Raemisch took the job last summer, he’s further reduced the numbers.
Today, less than 600 inmates are in administrative segregation, the
technical term for solitary confinement.
Raemisch
received national attention recently for an opinion piece he wrote in
the New York Times about spending a night in an administrative
segregation cell. He says he did it to get a sense of what the
experience was like for inmates.
Raemisch
says while the 20 hours he spent in the cell were nothing compared to
what inmates spend, he was surprised at the effect it had on him. For
example, he says he felt paronoid and lost track of time.
“It
didn’t take long before I felt like I had absolutely run out of things
to do, which was nothing. There was nothing to do,” Raemisch says. “So,
you find yourself gravitating towards the small window in the steel door
and look out and see if you can see anything.”
Inmates
in solitary confinement spend 23 hours alone in a cell each day. They
have an hour a day to shower and exercise in a neighboring cell. Meals
are given to them through a slot in the door and they have little
outside contact.
Raemisch
says he hopes to continue reducing the number of inmates in
administrative segregation by moving mentally ill inmates into treatment
and easing others into the prison’s general population. When asked how
many inmates will remain in administrative segregation, Raemish says he
isn’t sure.
“Well, ideally it should be zero,” Raemisch says. "Is that possible? You know, I don’t think so.”
Raemish
says he fears there will always be a small number of inmates who are
too dangerous to live in the general prison population. Or, he says, if
they weren’t extremely dangerous before they were put in administrative
segregation, the experience could make them that way.
That
could have been the case for the man who murdered Clements. Evan Ebel,
who was on parole at the time of the murder, spent a significant amount
of time in solitary confinement. Ebel allegedly shot the former prisons
chief at his home in Monument, Colo., south of Denver. He was later
killed in a shootout with police in Texas.
Ebel
had been out of prison for just a couple of months when he allegedly
killed Clements. Before the incident, he had complained about the
damaging effects of isolation and his father, a Boulder attorney, had
testified before the state legislature about his concerns that solitary
confinement had harmed his son's mental state.
Given
what happened to his predecessor, Raemisch has a full-time security
detail to ensure his safety. He says a lot of people ask him why he
decided to take the job.
“This
sounds corny but to me it feels like I’m in the right place at the
right time,” Raemisch says. “Like I’m supposed to be here.”
And for this week, at least, Raemisch says he plans to stick around.
It’s
been nearly a year since Tom Clements, then the head of Colorado’s
prisons, was murdered, allegedly by a former inmate. Rick Raemisch, the
man who succeeded Clements, is determined to continue efforts Clements
started to reform the prison system.
As
head of the Colorado Department of Corrections, Tom Clements began
reducing the number of inmates in solitary confinement. He started that
work shortly after he began the job in 2011, and during his tenure, the
number of inmates housed in solitary confinement dropped 50 percent,
from a high of about 1,500 inmates.
Since
Raemisch took the job last summer, he’s further reduced the numbers.
Today, less than 600 inmates are in administrative segregation, the
technical term for solitary confinement.
Raemisch
received national attention recently for an opinion piece he wrote in
the New York Times about spending a night in an administrative
segregation cell. He says he did it to get a sense of what the
experience was like for inmates.
Raemisch
says while the 20 hours he spent in the cell were nothing compared to
what inmates spend, he was surprised at the effect it had on him. For
example, he says he felt paronoid and lost track of time.
“It
didn’t take long before I felt like I had absolutely run out of things
to do, which was nothing. There was nothing to do,” Raemisch says. “So,
you find yourself gravitating towards the small window in the steel door
and look out and see if you can see anything.”
Inmates
in solitary confinement spend 23 hours alone in a cell each day. They
have an hour a day to shower and exercise in a neighboring cell. Meals
are given to them through a slot in the door and they have little
outside contact.
Raemisch
says he hopes to continue reducing the number of inmates in
administrative segregation by moving mentally ill inmates into treatment
and easing others into the prison’s general population. When asked how
many inmates will remain in administrative segregation, Raemish says he
isn’t sure.
“Well, ideally it should be zero,” Raemisch says. "Is that possible? You know, I don’t think so.”
Raemish
says he fears there will always be a small number of inmates who are
too dangerous to live in the general prison population. Or, he says, if
they weren’t extremely dangerous before they were put in administrative
segregation, the experience could make them that way.
That
could have been the case for the man who murdered Clements. Evan Ebel,
who was on parole at the time of the murder, spent a significant amount
of time in solitary confinement. Ebel allegedly shot the former prisons
chief at his home in Monument, Colo., south of Denver. He was later
killed in a shootout with police in Texas.
Ebel
had been out of prison for just a couple of months when he allegedly
killed Clements. Before the incident, he had complained about the
damaging effects of isolation and his father, a Boulder attorney, had
testified before the state legislature about his concerns that solitary
confinement had harmed his son's mental state.
Given
what happened to his predecessor, Raemisch has a full-time security
detail to ensure his safety. He says a lot of people ask him why he
decided to take the job.
“This
sounds corny but to me it feels like I’m in the right place at the
right time,” Raemisch says. “Like I’m supposed to be here.”
And for this week, at least, Raemisch says he plans to stick around.
- See more at: http://www.cpr.org/news/story/colorados-prisons-chief-wants-limit-solitary-confinement#.dpuf
It’s
been nearly a year since Tom Clements, then the head of Colorado’s
prisons, was murdered, allegedly by a former inmate. Rick Raemisch, the
man who succeeded Clements, is determined to continue efforts Clements
started to reform the prison system.
As
head of the Colorado Department of Corrections, Tom Clements began
reducing the number of inmates in solitary confinement. He started that
work shortly after he began the job in 2011, and during his tenure, the
number of inmates housed in solitary confinement dropped 50 percent,
from a high of about 1,500 inmates.
Since
Raemisch took the job last summer, he’s further reduced the numbers.
Today, less than 600 inmates are in administrative segregation, the
technical term for solitary confinement.
Raemisch
received national attention recently for an opinion piece he wrote in
the New York Times about spending a night in an administrative
segregation cell. He says he did it to get a sense of what the
experience was like for inmates.
Raemisch
says while the 20 hours he spent in the cell were nothing compared to
what inmates spend, he was surprised at the effect it had on him. For
example, he says he felt paronoid and lost track of time.
“It
didn’t take long before I felt like I had absolutely run out of things
to do, which was nothing. There was nothing to do,” Raemisch says. “So,
you find yourself gravitating towards the small window in the steel door
and look out and see if you can see anything.”
Inmates
in solitary confinement spend 23 hours alone in a cell each day. They
have an hour a day to shower and exercise in a neighboring cell. Meals
are given to them through a slot in the door and they have little
outside contact.
Raemisch
says he hopes to continue reducing the number of inmates in
administrative segregation by moving mentally ill inmates into treatment
and easing others into the prison’s general population. When asked how
many inmates will remain in administrative segregation, Raemish says he
isn’t sure.
“Well, ideally it should be zero,” Raemisch says. "Is that possible? You know, I don’t think so.”
Raemish
says he fears there will always be a small number of inmates who are
too dangerous to live in the general prison population. Or, he says, if
they weren’t extremely dangerous before they were put in administrative
segregation, the experience could make them that way.
That
could have been the case for the man who murdered Clements. Evan Ebel,
who was on parole at the time of the murder, spent a significant amount
of time in solitary confinement. Ebel allegedly shot the former prisons
chief at his home in Monument, Colo., south of Denver. He was later
killed in a shootout with police in Texas.
Ebel
had been out of prison for just a couple of months when he allegedly
killed Clements. Before the incident, he had complained about the
damaging effects of isolation and his father, a Boulder attorney, had
testified before the state legislature about his concerns that solitary
confinement had harmed his son's mental state.
Given
what happened to his predecessor, Raemisch has a full-time security
detail to ensure his safety. He says a lot of people ask him why he
decided to take the job.
“This
sounds corny but to me it feels like I’m in the right place at the
right time,” Raemisch says. “Like I’m supposed to be here.”
And for this week, at least, Raemisch says he plans to stick around.
- See more at: http://www.cpr.org/news/story/colorados-prisons-chief-wants-limit-solitary-confinement#.dpuf
It’s
been nearly a year since Tom Clements, then the head of Colorado’s
prisons, was murdered, allegedly by a former inmate. Rick Raemisch, the
man who succeeded Clements, is determined to continue efforts Clements
started to reform the prison system.
As
head of the Colorado Department of Corrections, Tom Clements began
reducing the number of inmates in solitary confinement. He started that
work shortly after he began the job in 2011, and during his tenure, the
number of inmates housed in solitary confinement dropped 50 percent,
from a high of about 1,500 inmates.
Since
Raemisch took the job last summer, he’s further reduced the numbers.
Today, less than 600 inmates are in administrative segregation, the
technical term for solitary confinement.
Raemisch
received national attention recently for an opinion piece he wrote in
the New York Times about spending a night in an administrative
segregation cell. He says he did it to get a sense of what the
experience was like for inmates.
Raemisch
says while the 20 hours he spent in the cell were nothing compared to
what inmates spend, he was surprised at the effect it had on him. For
example, he says he felt paronoid and lost track of time.
“It
didn’t take long before I felt like I had absolutely run out of things
to do, which was nothing. There was nothing to do,” Raemisch says. “So,
you find yourself gravitating towards the small window in the steel door
and look out and see if you can see anything.”
Inmates
in solitary confinement spend 23 hours alone in a cell each day. They
have an hour a day to shower and exercise in a neighboring cell. Meals
are given to them through a slot in the door and they have little
outside contact.
Raemisch
says he hopes to continue reducing the number of inmates in
administrative segregation by moving mentally ill inmates into treatment
and easing others into the prison’s general population. When asked how
many inmates will remain in administrative segregation, Raemish says he
isn’t sure.
“Well, ideally it should be zero,” Raemisch says. "Is that possible? You know, I don’t think so.”
Raemish
says he fears there will always be a small number of inmates who are
too dangerous to live in the general prison population. Or, he says, if
they weren’t extremely dangerous before they were put in administrative
segregation, the experience could make them that way.
That
could have been the case for the man who murdered Clements. Evan Ebel,
who was on parole at the time of the murder, spent a significant amount
of time in solitary confinement. Ebel allegedly shot the former prisons
chief at his home in Monument, Colo., south of Denver. He was later
killed in a shootout with police in Texas.
Ebel
had been out of prison for just a couple of months when he allegedly
killed Clements. Before the incident, he had complained about the
damaging effects of isolation and his father, a Boulder attorney, had
testified before the state legislature about his concerns that solitary
confinement had harmed his son's mental state.
Given
what happened to his predecessor, Raemisch has a full-time security
detail to ensure his safety. He says a lot of people ask him why he
decided to take the job.
“This
sounds corny but to me it feels like I’m in the right place at the
right time,” Raemisch says. “Like I’m supposed to be here.”
And for this week, at least, Raemisch says he plans to stick around.
- See more at: http://www.cpr.org/news/story/colorados-prisons-chief-wants-limit-solitary-confinement#.dpuf
It’s
been nearly a year since Tom Clements, then the head of Colorado’s
prisons, was murdered, allegedly by a former inmate. Rick Raemisch, the
man who succeeded Clements, is determined to continue efforts Clements
started to reform the prison system.
As
head of the Colorado Department of Corrections, Tom Clements began
reducing the number of inmates in solitary confinement. He started that
work shortly after he began the job in 2011, and during his tenure, the
number of inmates housed in solitary confinement dropped 50 percent,
from a high of about 1,500 inmates.
Since
Raemisch took the job last summer, he’s further reduced the numbers.
Today, less than 600 inmates are in administrative segregation, the
technical term for solitary confinement.
Raemisch
received national attention recently for an opinion piece he wrote in
the New York Times about spending a night in an administrative
segregation cell. He says he did it to get a sense of what the
experience was like for inmates.
Raemisch
says while the 20 hours he spent in the cell were nothing compared to
what inmates spend, he was surprised at the effect it had on him. For
example, he says he felt paronoid and lost track of time.
“It
didn’t take long before I felt like I had absolutely run out of things
to do, which was nothing. There was nothing to do,” Raemisch says. “So,
you find yourself gravitating towards the small window in the steel door
and look out and see if you can see anything.”
Inmates
in solitary confinement spend 23 hours alone in a cell each day. They
have an hour a day to shower and exercise in a neighboring cell. Meals
are given to them through a slot in the door and they have little
outside contact.
Raemisch
says he hopes to continue reducing the number of inmates in
administrative segregation by moving mentally ill inmates into treatment
and easing others into the prison’s general population. When asked how
many inmates will remain in administrative segregation, Raemish says he
isn’t sure.
“Well, ideally it should be zero,” Raemisch says. "Is that possible? You know, I don’t think so.”
Raemish
says he fears there will always be a small number of inmates who are
too dangerous to live in the general prison population. Or, he says, if
they weren’t extremely dangerous before they were put in administrative
segregation, the experience could make them that way.
That
could have been the case for the man who murdered Clements. Evan Ebel,
who was on parole at the time of the murder, spent a significant amount
of time in solitary confinement. Ebel allegedly shot the former prisons
chief at his home in Monument, Colo., south of Denver. He was later
killed in a shootout with police in Texas.
Ebel
had been out of prison for just a couple of months when he allegedly
killed Clements. Before the incident, he had complained about the
damaging effects of isolation and his father, a Boulder attorney, had
testified before the state legislature about his concerns that solitary
confinement had harmed his son's mental state.
Given
what happened to his predecessor, Raemisch has a full-time security
detail to ensure his safety. He says a lot of people ask him why he
decided to take the job.
“This
sounds corny but to me it feels like I’m in the right place at the
right time,” Raemisch says. “Like I’m supposed to be here.”
And for this week, at least, Raemisch says he plans to stick around.
- See more at: http://www.cpr.org/news/story/colorados-prisons-chief-wants-limit-solitary-confinement#.dpuf
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